CO2 Readings on Blood Lab

[robertjvan]

I keep some important figures (atleast to me), in a excel spreadsheet (since 1994). Noticed that since I retired in July of 2008 and moved from Florida to New York, the Readings for CO2 have jumped from the low twenties to the low thirties, It's not the new mask cause the jump started while I was still on the old machine; should I make a special appointment to see my New Doctor, I have no sleep Doctor here yet would probably have to travel to find one (I moved into the country). My Primary Doctor is a Internal Doctor, I see her next in July and will be having some lab work done not not sure it will include that reading or not and those will not be till June anyways.

What say people?

[robertjvan]

Bump to the top again!

[dave21]

Do you know what your AHI was on the machine in Florida vs New York? I don't think the surroundings would have a massive difference but altitiude might make a slight difference. It could be the machine has developed a fault although most of these machines are built really well, manufacturers also say they'll easily last for 15 years but things can go wrong in manufacturing that affect the machines later lifespan. It's also possible your AHI has gone up and you're not getting enough oxygen and have more CO2 in your blood.

It could also be that your mask vent holes are blocked, have you checked these? If you haven't washed your mask recently that might be a good start and ensure the vent holes are clear.

If you don't feel any worse then you could leave it but you might want to make sure you have a sleep doctor available just in case you get into any problems down the road. It realy depends if it was a gradual increase in CO2 or whether it's changed within a few weeks.

Do you feel any better or worse? Was your doctor concerned about the elevated CO2 readings?

[robertjvan]

Do you know what your AHI was on the machine in Florida vs New York? I don't think the surroundings would have a massive difference but altitiude might make a slight difference. It could be the machine has developed a fault although most of these machines are built really well, manufacturers also say they'll easily last for 15 years but things can go wrong in manufacturing that affect the machines later lifespan. It's also possible your AHI has gone up and you're not getting enough oxygen and have more CO2 in your blood.

It could also be that your mask vent holes are blocked, have you checked these? If you haven't washed your mask recently that might be a good start and ensure the vent holes are clear.

If you don't feel any worse then you could leave it but you might want to make sure you have a sleep doctor available just in case you get into any problems down the road. It realy depends if it was a gradual increase in CO2 or whether it's changed within a few weeks.

Do you feel any better or worse? Was your doctor concerned about the elevated CO2 readings?

The AHI in Florida Vs New York, Have No IDEA. I'll try to locate a sleep Doctor, close by.
Altitude is different, I lived in Tallahassee at about 188 feet and in New York I'm in the Catskill elevation is about 1100 feet.
I'm seeing the same readings with the old vs the new machine. The old machine was about 12 years, got the new machine in January 2009.
I know the vent holes are open cause I can feel the air rushing though them, got a new mask in January 2010.

I don't feel quite as well rested as I did in Florida, my readings were mostly in the low to upper 20s from June 1999 though March 2008. In September of 2008 I was at 30 and in September 2009 and last march it was 32. I did record a spic (31) in April 2006, but that soon went down (26).

No my regular Doctor is not concerned in fact she was looking more at the A1C reading that started creaking up and HIT 6.2 but now is going down again.
Seams my Kidneys are also spilling proteins, and a medication adjustment.

[JohnBFisher]

... Do you know ...

Ditto to what dave21 notes.

I've thought about your question and was going to post something similar to what he posted. Essentially, it depends on how quickly your CO2 levels have increased and how much it might impact you. I would start with your Internist. However, CO2 levels may have less to do with your sleep than they do with your lungs and kidneys. Hence, start with your internist.

Hope that helps.

[robertjvan]

Thanks I'll call her office Monday and leave a question maybe she'll call or have her Nurse call back.

BTW: I was going through the CPAP program and it has a Altitude adjustment for 0 1500 3000, it was set at 0, as my elevation is 1100 I changed that setting to 1500 which is closer.

[kteague]

BTW: I was going through the CPAP program and it has a Altitude adjustment for 0 1500 3000, it was set at 0, as my elevation is 1100 I changed that setting to 1500 which is closer.

It will be interesting to me to see if that affects your readings. Let us know.

[robertjvan]

Ill leave this email notice in the inbox till I see, help it atleast helps but I'll call the Doctor too!

[woodg]

I don't think the surroundings would have a massive difference but altitiude might make a slight difference.

I disagree with this statement. I travel extensively when I'm working and I found that I had a lot of trouble when I was in Florida. Things like different allergens, Humidity levels and a whole host of other things can make a difference in the results you get, especially when you make a change of location.

When I was in Florida, I was still using a straight CPAP machine and since that time, I've upgraded to an APAP. I haven't been back to FL since I started ont the APAP, so I can't give any personal experiences in that regard.

[dsm]

I keep some important figures (atleast to me), in a excel spreadsheet (since 1994). Noticed that since I retired in July of 2008 and moved from Florida to New York, the Readings for CO2 have jumped from the low twenties to the low thirties, It's not the new mask cause the jump started while I was still on the old machine; should I make a special appointment to see my New Doctor, I have no sleep Doctor here yet would probably have to travel to find one (I moved into the country). My Primary Doctor is a Internal Doctor, I see her next in July and will be having some lab work done not not sure it will include that reading or not and those will not be till June anyways.

What say people?

Robert

Just want to clarify if you are really meaning O2 levels (SpO2 - Oxygen blood saturation) or as you have stated CO2 levels (Carbon Dioxide in the blood). There is a world of difference in the meaning of these two measurements. I am just in some doubt as to which you actually mean as very few people have access to their CO2 readings whereas many can access their SpO2 readings). Regular CO2 measurement suggests regular sleep overs at a sleep clinic or that you have a rare & very expensive home CO2 blood level measurment device.

Can you help by restating clearly if it is O2 or CO2 readings & if it is CO2 readings where have you been getting them from ?

If there is a mistake between CO2 & O2 it changes things quite a bit as to what help we can offer

Cheers

DSM

[dave21]

If there is a mistake between CO2 & O2 it changes things quite a bit as to what help we can offer

Agreed, if it's O2 readings and not CO2 readings than the altitude difference could be playing a part in the figure changes.

[robertjvan]

Oh it's my CO2 reading from the Blood Lab Report. I do not have access to the sleep reports, and my machine does not record but the sleep compliance figures.

[dsm]

Tks Robert,

Was worth getting that clarified

Good luck

DSM

[robertjvan]

The new Altitude adjustment of 1500 seams to be helping, I'm not tired in the morning anyways. Hopefully the next Blood Lab will show something it will be two weeks after I change some meds I start themas soon's the new RX's get processed, a week to 10 days. I have the old meds to last for I get the new!

[robertjvan]

CO2 Reading has leveled off at 31, in Florida seams I bounced from 32 to 23. But I sleep about 7 Hours and wake rested.